The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

For his 25th anniversary, Bunnicula is being ushered into one of the last children’s literature formats he has yet to invade: the easy reader. Harold the dog narrates the story of Bunnicula’s arrival at the Monroe house. The family discovers the bunny with the cape-shaped markings at a Dracula movie and white vegetables begin to turn up. Chester, the family’s excitable cat, wigs out: he’s sure the bunny will go after the animals and people once he’s done with the veggies. Chester starves poor Bunnicula by barring his path to the kitchen with garlic, but Harold saves the day and Bunnicula. Mack’s new, acrylic illustrations are more cartoonish, but Bunnicula and friends have never been more adorable. This is a good abridgement by Heather Henson, and it might lead readers to the rest of the series. It’s to be hoped that Bunnicula will get all new adventures instead of more retreads to satisfy the promise of more to come. (Easy reader. 6-8)

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